we were just talking to rob about it kind of drizzling in san francisco right now, but this is just the start of it. >> strong winds, damaging winds and flood watch for the entire bay area through 10:00 a.m. on monday. you can see the rain impacts through the day tomorrow. a bit of a break as we approach the middle part of the break. >> wow. all right. thanks for watching. "nightly news" is next. >> we'll see you again at 6:00. tonight, the u.s. carrying out another round of air strikes in the middle east this time hitting targets inside yemen. exclusive video of the planes that carried out tonight's attack, and new video from the first round of attacks explosions in iraq and syria,

buildings on fire, others completely destroyed new details on what was targeted as leaders in the region blast the u.s. our reporters in iraq and embedded with the u.s. navy in the region plus, the high-tech bomber that flew from the u.s. thousands of miles to strike its targets. did voters turn out in the first real test for president biden? democrats voting in the first official primary today we're on the ground in south carolina life-threatening floods forecast in california evacuation warnings as 36 million brace for the worst. new details on the moments before a small plane crashed into a mobile home park. the chilling audio >> they went down hard they're in flames. nbc news exclusive -- the ceo of the train company one year after the derailment in east palestine, ohio what he's promising residents and how they feel about him. >> you feel welcome in this town and taylor taken off tiktok.

the most powerful musician forced off one of the world's most popular apps. ♪ >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with jose diaz-balart. >> good evening. the u.s. launched new air strikes tonight in the middle east a day after the u.s. launched a campaign to strike back at groups that have been targeting americans and american interests in the region. today we got our first images of the destruction from last night's attacks. you can see the explosions in the distance and you can see the extensive damage up close. the strikes tonight targeting missile sites in yemen where iran-backed militias have been firing on commercial ships the strikes last night allegedly killing soldiers and civilians across syria and iraq, according to officials there the campaign could last for weeks. a response to the american soldiers killed in jordan earlier this week and the hundreds of smaller attacks that preceded that. our reporters are spread out across the region. we begin tonight with courtney kube who is the only journalist on board the navy ship that

launched today's attack inside yemen. courtney >> reporter: the u.s. and british military conducting strikes against houthi rebels in yemen tonight. launching more than two dozen aircraft from here, the "uss dwight d. eisenhower" in the red sea. this is the second night in a row that aircraft from the "eisenhower" have targeted the iranian-backed houthi rebels earlier today the u.s. struck an anti-ship cruise missile in yemen they deemed an imminent threat defense officials say tonight's strikes are not part of operation prosperity guardian, a coalition working to defend ships against the houthi attacks. u.s. destroyers including the "uss gravely" also targeted the houthis tonight, firing tomahawk missiles we traveled to the "uss mason" where they demonstrated the split-second decisionmaking necessary to shoot down an incoming missile in this scenario launching a standard missile to intercept the threat despite other strikes by the u.s. and british militaries in recent weeks, the houthis have continued to target commercial and military ships

and so far tonight, no response from the houthis >> courtney kube, thank you so we are getting a first look at the aftermath of those first strikes on targets in syria and iraq both countries and iran now blasting the attacks keir simmons reports from irbil, iraq >> reporter: explosions in iraq and syria overnight. today the u.s. assessing the aftermath of friday night's operation involving it said 85 strikes and 125 precision munitions, while local reports say around 40 were killed. targets on the syrian-iraqi border, stronghold that iranian-backed militia accused of carrying out the deadly attack on a u.s. base in jordan. as the bodies of those service men and women arrived home, u.s. b1 bombers were already on their way from the united states traveling thousands of miles and refueling in flight, hitting the pentagon says, munitions, drone facilities, and iran's islamic

revolutionary guard corps. there were no strikes inside iran, but america's unmistakable message directed squarely at the iranian leadership iran condemning the strikes, but notably not vowing to respond. baghdad's government with links to the u.s. and iran calling it america's deputy chief of mission to receive a formal protest. iraq furiously saying it was not warned u.s. officials insisting it was. iran's deepening influence here evident when tonight we reached a spokesman for an iranian backed militia "we are in a state of war," he tells us why is u.s. involvement in iraq an invasion of sovereignty, but iran's involvement isn't "today the usa has killed iraqis he says, while iran fought with iraq against isis.

he admits the u.s. fought isis, too. thank you for your help, he says it's time to go back home. the biden administration tonight trying to persuade iran to change course while avoiding a widening regional conflict dual challenges, together a formidable task. >> keir joins us from irbil. how much daniel was done in this first retaliatory strike >> reporter: we are waiting for that assessment from the pentagon, jose tonight there are those criticizing the u.s. decision to signal that these strikes were coming, saying potentially it allowed iranian operatives to get out of harm's way. tonight we are told by officials more strikes are on the way. jose >> keir simmons in irbil, iraq thank you. the strikes come as voters head to the polls in south carolina for the nation's first official democratic primary. of 2024. and nbc news now projects president biden has won that

state. gabe gutierrez is there with more on biden's primary victory, and voter reaction to the air strikes. >> reporter: tonight in south carolina, voters are reacting to the president's retaliatory air strikes. >> i approved of the president's decision i thought they were targeted which is better than a blanket type of strike i think they were targeted to try to prevent civilian deaths, as well. >> it's kind of your damned if you do and damned if you don't we can't ignore what they did to kill some of our service people, but then the last thing we need to do is stir that area up and make it worse. [ chants ] >> reporter: not everyone supports the escalation. >> we're attacking them, and we're giving them cause to attack back. >> reporter: lawmakers also weighing in. democrats calling the strikes the first stage in a well-thought-out, strong, and measured campaign. >> there has to be a consequence for anyone that kills american troops, and so going against those groups identified as responsible for the deaths of these three reservists from

georgia, very understandable that's within the president's self-defense powers. >> reporter: some republicans are blasting the biden administration for conducting the air strikes without congressional approval others are taking issue with the timing, writing, "in true biden fashion he waited too long he telegraphed a weak response over days and gave our enemies time to withdraw their military leadership and assets. >> the entire region knew this was coming and that many of those facilities were evacuated. [ cheers ] >> reporter: president biden today visiting his campaign headquarters in delaware >> not just a campaign, this is more of a mission. >> reporter: while here in the south carolina primary tonight -- >> south carolina, go vote today. >> reporter: nbc news projects he will decisively win over challengers congressman dean phillips and marianne williamson >> supporting biden. yeah always been -- supported biden and obama. he's trying hard to make the country better, and i trust him.

>> gabe joins us from a polling location in columbia, south carolina gabe, how's turnout been so far? >> reporter: turnout was low, jose, with president biden as the incumbent. the republican primary between donald trump and nikki haley is expected to draw more attention later this month jose >> gabe gutierrez in columbia, south carolina thank you. today house republicans announced a new tactic that could complicate a long-negotiated national security bill. republican speaker mike johnson announced the stand-alone bill to give israel nearly $18 billion to fight its war against hamas. that proposal is separate from the senate package that includes money for ukraine, taiwan, and efforts to control the humanitarian crisis along the u.s. border. california is bracing for potentially deadly flooding along its coast this weekend 36 million are at risk for flooding, strong winds, and blizzard-like conditions dana griffin is in santa barbara where officials are warning residents to evacuate. dana

>> reporter: jose, up and down the state they're preparing for heavy rain out into the distance you see storm preps happening now on the beach as they build these sand berms. evacuation orders are in effect, and all beaches here are now closed part of the 101 freeway prone to flooding could be shut down. people waiting in line for hours to fill up sandbags. a backhoe removing large rocks from a river to help prevent it from overflowing rain is expected to start late tonight and could continue until monday three to six inches along the coast, 6 to 12 inches possible in higher elevations, and wind gusts in some areas as high as 60 miles per hour. jose, officials warning people to get what you need now >> dana griffin in santa barbara, thank you overseas in chile tonight, deadly out-of-control wildfires are ripping through some of the country's most popular tourist destinations nearly 50 people have died in

fires burning near santiago on the central coast all the way down south many residents are fleeing their homes, and the president of chile declared a state of emergency. no cause yet, but it's summer there, and they've been suffering through a heat wave, drought, and high wind conditions back here in the u.s., we have new details tonight on that deadly plane crash in florida. the flight's final moments and what we now know about those who parished here's marissa parra >> reporter: a deadly plane crash and fiery eruption in clearwater, florida. the three victims now identified, martha parry and mary ellen pender who were inside the mobile home that the pilot jim plane crashed into >> i can't see the airport - >> reporter: his desperate calls for help and his final moments providing clues to what went wrong. >> i'm losing engine >> reporter: after seconds of silence with air traffic control, another pilot - >> this is going down at an extremely high rate of speed

they went down hard. they're in flames. >> reporter: the doomed single-financial plane, a beechcraft bonanza b35, had deported vero beach, scheduled to arrive an hour later at clearwater air park. crashing three miles away instead, ending in tragedy today the ntsb investigating the accident removing the pieces of the plane. the mobile home it landed on didn't stand a chance. smoke still rising from the scene 24 hours later >> it pretty much demolished that mobile home and then the ensuing fire consumed most of the rest. >> reporter: the fuel from the plane together with the impact created a towering inferno >> plane just crashed -- >> reporter: neighbor rick renner took this video >> house shook, windows rattled. when i pulled out of my driveway you could see the smoke and the flames up in the air over 50 feet >> reporter: emergency crews rescued neighbors trapped by flames next door, working through the night to put out hot spots. but 86-year-old martha parry, described by family as a beloved

great grandmother, and mary ellen pender, couldn't be saved. >> prayers for the families. i mean, they're going to need help from everybody. >> reporter: a shaken community looking for consolation and answers. marissa parra, nbc news, clearwater, florida. up next, an nbc news exclusive. we are in east palestine, ohio, with the norfolk southern ceo one year after that toxic train derailment what's changed since then, and do residents think the company's done enough?

we're back with an nbc news exclusive. it has been exactly one year since a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed and caught fire in east palestine, ohio since then residents fear for their health and livelihoods george solis went back to east palestine for an exclusive interview with the rail company's ceo, pressing him on efforts to make things right with that community. >> reporter: you feel welcome in this town? >> yeah. i really enjoy coming back >> reporter: one year after the norfolk southern toxic train derailment in east palestine, ohio, company ceo alan shaw says he remains committed to the community. what do you say to that family who is worried about their long-term health here in the town >> you know, i hear that, all right. i certainly understand it. >> reporter: shaw says he's been here 20 to 30 times since last february's fiery derailment and subsequent chemical spill the ntsb says was caused by an overheated wheel bearing

the controlled explosion of five train cars containing hazardous chemicals leading to massive smoke plumes over the village and led to evacuations ♪ kathy rimby keeps her norfolk southern issued air purifier running as a precaution. >> we are running it daily, and we also are still drinking bottled water. >> reporter: norfolk southern says it's invested more than $100 million in east palestine, still some of shaw's visits prove more contentious than others >> buy my house, alan! buy my house it ain't right it ain't right >> we have our family assistance center - >> it ain't right! >> reporter: be remiss to say obviously your presence here can still jar up some feelings what are you doing to convince those people who still believe, again, norfolk southern hasn't done right by them >> we're keeping our promises. each and every day >> reporter: you believe that norfolk southern has kept their promises >> to what degree, i don't believe it's -- that's smoothe of a transition for anyone

i love my -- >> reporter: anna who owns and runs both the gas station and liquor store right next to the train tracks is part of one of many ongoing lawsuits against the railroad company norfolk southern declining to comment on any cases >> there's people and businesses that will never live there anymore. >> reporter: resident and business owner joy masher is also part of the suit. she says despite local, state, and federal tests that have determined the air, water, and soil is safe she's not convinced. >> are they going to be here in 15 years when cancer starts forming in clusters? >> reporter: shaw says yes, they're working on a long-term health care fund >> we're not going to be bounded by time. >> reporter: today this is what the crash site looks like. cleanup of contamination at the derailment zone is done, but work to restore the site is ongoing. as you see, these tracks are very much active epa approved soil and gravel now being used to refill gaps as environmental testing continues. company deployed state of the art tech to inspect trains, but lingering questions remain about

industry-wide safety can you sit here today one year later and confidently say that railroads are safer at least for norfolk southern than they were a year ago >> yes norfolk southern was a safe railroad, i promise to make a safe railroad even safer >> reporter: the white house has announced president biden will visit east palestine later this month. his first visit since the derailment a visit that comes as a bipartisan rail safety bill remains in the balance jose >> george solis, thank you still ahead, the battle over music, money, tiktok, and taylor swift. why the superstar's songs got yanked from one of the biggest apps in the world.

taylor swift is arguably the most famous person on the planet right now, but there's one place you won't hear her music anymore. jesse kirsch explains why her songs and the music of other popular artists have been pulled from one of the biggest social media apps in the world. ♪ do you see stars ♪ >> reporter: what you hear on tiktok - ♪ do you see stars ♪ can matter as much as what you see. ♪ but tonight some of the social media juggernaut's most popular videos have been silenced. this week, universal music group choosing not to renew its agreements with tiktok, blaming the social media platform for an unwillingness to appropriately compensate artists and songwriters, protect human artists from the harmful effects of ai, and address online safety

issues for tiktok's users. tiktok firing back, saying it is sad and disappointing that universal music group has put their own greed above the interests of their artists and songwriters. as a result of the feud, tiktok started pulling universal music from its app, muting videos that had included songs from mega-stars like taylor swift >> the videos are useless. >> reporter: hayden joseph is one of the content creators caught in the crossfire. here's one of his videos featuring shania twain music on instagram. ♪ like superstars ♪ but on tiktok -- crickets. who does this hurt the most? >> by far the creators the creators are small businesses all of the work they made before is now valueless so they don't have their own portfolios to go and show to brands who might work with them. >> reporter: could universal have done this without at least implicit blessings from people like taylor swift and drake? >> oh, no. i think universal is in

absolute communication with its artists. artists don't want to be silenced on the most important social platforms for young people there is. but the artists also want to get paid >> reporter: for lesser known artists, tiktok has increasingly become the place to be discovered now with the app and music industry colliding, some tiktokers still finding a way to shake it off ♪ embracing the silence. jesse kirsch, nbc news when we come back, you're going to want to see this. the heartwarming sendoff for a beloved school crossing guard. it's her good-bye message that will really move you ♪

♪ there's good news tonight about the many people you can meet every day who uplift us with their extraordinary joy and positivity tonight, we're celebrating just one of those stories >> how about a big round of applause for miss alice. [ cheers and applause >> there were songs -- ♪ woke up this morning with ♪ ♪ grateful for miss alice ♪ ♪ here's to you here's to you miss alice ♪ >> you've done so much for us over the years ♪ ♪ helping us safely cross the street ♪ >> and celebration - ♪ every morning ♪ >> an outpouring of love honoring berkeley, california, crossing guard alice k. tolbert who has just retired from her post after nearly 20 years

calvin mackly welch is one of generations of students she's cared for and kept safe. many returned to thank her for making them feel special calvin's mom helped organize the emotional sendoff and a fundraiser for the woman everyone calls miss alice. what an extraordinary person she is >> she's the best of us. not only keeping us safe but showing us what respect looks like, what it looks like to like truly respect other people [ cheers ] if the world was alice's corner, it would be the world we all want >> alice, there was a moment when they were singing that song to you, you looked up and -- and pointed up do you remember why? >> i was thanking god for letting me be the person that i am and taking me through my life journey. >> a life well lived, huh, alice? >> i couldn't ask for more >> for this humble woman guided by faith, it's a bittersweet good-bye >> i don't have grandchildren, but you're all my grandchildren.

>> and the beginning of a new chapter leading by example and inspiring all of us with these profound words of wisdom - >> be friends with one another yes. be friends with one another. and i want every last one of you all to take a journey to be positive, okay all of you, because the world belongs to you guys. and you got to make a difference in the world that's what i want for all of you, to make a difference. >> and we wish miss alice a happy and healthy retirement that's "nbc nightly news" for this saturday. kate snow will be here tomorrow night. i'm jose diaz-balart thank you for the privilege of your time. good night

these next storms are going to be impactful and dangerous. most of the damaging impacts to our southern regions. >> right now at 6:00, the entire state bracing for a storm with the intensity set to spike this evening. california mobilizing thousands of resources as it barrels towards us. >> we are tracking this storm hour by hour. we will tell you where it is heading, when it is going to arrive and what to watch out for. and we're catching up with people trying to get last-minute preparations ready trying to dodge the worst of the storm's impact. the news at 6:00 starts right now. thanks for joining us. i'm terry mcsweeney. >> the storm is just getting underway, but itl